Rangers Facebook Feed

Brad Richards' twitter account wasn't the only thing that got "hacked". Apparently Jim Dolan snuck into my house, used my computer to check his facebook, and then forgot to log off. At the risk of having Dolan shut down my internet services, I've decided to share the highly confidential Rangers Organization news feed with you. (Props to DGB for the idea).

	The New York Rangers have joined the group NHL Offseason. April 23, 2011
	Vinny Prospal, Alexander Frolov, Bryan McCabe, and Steve Eminger  have left the New York Rangers network. April 23, 2011
	John Tortorella updated his status: "Time to enjoy a nice, quiet vacation." April 23, 2011 Larry Brooks likes this.
	Glen Sather has become a fan of Brad Richards. April 26, 2011
	Glen Sather sent a friend request to Brad Richards. April 26, 2011
	John Tortorella updated his status: "Off to Hawaii." April 28, 2011 Larry Brooks likes this.
	Glen Sather poked Brad Richards. April 29, 2011
	John Tortorella updated his status: "Cabo!!!" May 10, 2011 Larry Brooks likes this. John Tortorella Brooksie, you were probably beat up at the bus stop as a kid... Larry Brooks You think so?
	Glen Sather poked Brad Richards. May 15, 2011
	Glen Sather poked Brad Richards. May 20, 2011
	Glen Sather poked Brad Richards. May 20, 2011
	Glen Sather poked Brad Richards. May 25, 2011
	Tim Erixon and a 5th Round Draft Pick have joined the New York Rangers network. June 1, 2011 Michael Del Zotto does not like this.
	Glenn Sather gave $3,335,000.00 to Chris Drury. June 10, 2011
	Larry Brooks has posted a note: Top 5 Reasons to not sign Richards. June 15, 2011 Nobody likes this.
	J.T. Miller joined the New York Rangers network. June 24, 2011 Bobby Sanguinetti, Hugh Jessiman, Jamie Lundmark and Pavel Brendl like this. J.T. Miller Who the heck are you guys? Pavel Brendl Don't worry about it.
	Larry Brooks has posted a note: Scathing article about signing Richards. June 27, 2011 Nobody likes this.
	Larry Brooks has posted a note: 10 MORE REASONS NOT TO SIGN RICHARDS!!11!!!. June 30, 2011 Nobody likes this.
	Mike Rupp has joined the New York Rangers network. July 1, 2011 John Tortorella Glen, I thought we agreed we were going after players we actually need... Glen Sather Oops... Workin' on it John.
	Larry Brooks has posted a note: Reminder: I'm totally against signing Richards. July 1, 2011
	Brad Richards has joined the New York Rangers network. July 2, 2011 Rangers fans and Larry Brooks like this. John Tortorella Glen... Glen Sather What?!! John Tortorella Just kidding! Love it!!!
	Larry Brooks has become a fan of Brad Richards. July 3, 2011
	Larry Brooks has posted a note: Signing Richards was the best idea I ever had. July 10, 2011
	Larry Brooks has joined the group Hockey media members with no credibility. July 10, 2011 Everyone (especially Mike Milberry) likes this.
	Henrik Lundqvist was tagged in a photo from the album Weird Swedish Wedding Traditions. July, 15 2011 Henrik Zetterberg likes this.

A Look Back at the Rangers' Free-Agent History

Brad Richards playing for the Blueshirts
back in the 2007-2008 season

Let the worrying begin. It's not that I'm superstitious or anything, it's just that, well, let's be honest: the similarities are a little uncanny. Playmaking, 1st-line caliber centers, who are the same age, have both won stanley cups in the early 2000's, both signed front-loaded contracts earning them both more than $10 mil in the first year of their contract with the Rangers, and now to top it all off: they've both worn #19 for the Blueshirts?! ... I'm getting a little nervous that the Rangers might be heading down the same path by acquiring Richards, so in order to calm my nerves I've decided to take a look back at some of Sather's other free agent signings from the past decade, that should calm me down...

Bobby Holik (2002)
In 2002, Sather signed Holik to a massive 5 year, $9 mil per year contract. I'm not entirely sure because it's never been officially confirmed, but there are rumors that Sather conspired with Isiah Thomas during this time to make the Big Apple the biggest joke in professional sports. In the process of doing so, they accidently caused a lockout in the NHL, when Gary Bettman tried to bailout the Rags with the league's money after coming to the realization that New York was "too big to fail". In turn, the NHL lockout caused mass confusion across Manhattan as New Yorkers began questioning: "Wait, is hockey that sport that's played on ice?". Anyways, back to Holik. He spent 2 years with the Rangers, before being bought out by the Rangers following the lockout. During his tenure with the Rangers, he led them to 0 playoff appearances. He did however, score 41 goals over the course of those 2 years. That's nice... until you consider who else in the league currently makes $9 mil a year, some random scrubs named Malkin and Crosby. Never heard of 'em.

Chris Drury (2007)
Nobody's ever mentioned this before, but he's won the Little League World Series. He also owns a delicious pizza place in my home town, which unfortunately has no correlation to how good of a hockey player you are. Can't hate on the guy too much because I grew up playing on his hometown rink, attended his hockey camps that he ran with his brothers, and he even brought the stanley cup home. Even if it was for the wrong team. All hometown bias aside, signing a 5 year $35.5 mil contract and averaging just a little over 15 goals over 4 years, makes Drury one of the highest paid underachievers in the NHL. Capgeek.com rated him the highest paid underachiever in the NHL a few weeks ago, based on some algorithmic formula that is way over my head, but that list didn't take into account guys who are paid $6.5 mil to play in the AHL, ehem. This past season we learned that the reason for his declining production was due to the fact that his fingers are in fact, made of glass.

Scott Gomez (2007)
2007 was a good year for Rangers free agency signings. We got good 'ole #19 who signed a hefty 7 year, $51.5 mil front-loaded contract and managed to amass an impressive decent ... he scored 32 goals over 2 years. Then Sather miraculously traded him to MTL, A trade that brought the 12th overall draft pick from 2007 over to the Rangers, and proved to be the first intelligent decision Sather has made in his life since telling Edmonton to go after that scrawny little kid from Brantford, Ontario.

Wade Redden (2008)
Eh, not even going to try.

Christopher Higgins & Ales Kotalik (2009)
Combined cost of $5.25 mil. Combined for 14 goals before both being shipped off to Calgary midseason.

Donald Brashear (2009)
This one probably made me the most frustrated. Just months after Brashear took out Blair Betts from the playoffs with a cheap shot, Sather decides to sign Brashear to a 2 year $2.8 mil deal over the course of which he played in 36 NHL games, registering 1 assist and a -9 rating. The assist came when Brashear was sent to the Wolfpack so that a hockey player could take his spot. He currently plays in the Ligue Nord Americaine de Hockey, which apparently is French for Professional Boxing Association. Always knew he was in the wrong sport. What a piece of Brashear.

Well, my mind's made up. Based on Sather's free agent signings from the recent years, that cup is basically ours... in 2020 when Richards becomes an unrestricted free agent.